Orthopedic support and blank therefor



1955 s. QUISLING ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Aug. 21,1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 22 E OU/Si. ING

Oct. 25, 1955 s, QU|5| |NG 2,721,403

ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT AND BLANK THEREFOR File 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

3V RRE OU/SL/NG Attorney Oct. 25, 1955 5 QUISLING onmormxc SUPPORT ANDBLANK mum-0R 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Alli. 21, 1952 INVEN TOR.

@J m w 0 M M Mm R M w/v s United States Patent ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT ANDBLANK THEREFOR Sverre Quisling, Madison, Wis.

Application August 21, 1952, Serial No. 305,569

7 Claims. (Cl. 36-71) This invention relates to orthopedic supportsadapted to be placed in shoes and to the blanks from which such supportsmay be made quickly, easily, and cheaply.

In the present state of the art, arch supports are made in two distincttypes. The common type of arch support is made in standard sizes. Thesestandard sizes are not adaptable to any large number of feet and are notsuitable for use in every type of shoe. The other type of arch supportis made to fit individual feet. In order to obtain an arch support whichproperly fits the individual foot, it is necessary for an orthopedicexpert to make a plaster mold of the foot. A metal casting is thenformed and finished to fit the foot and the shoe, using the mold as apattern. The making of this type of arch support requires considerabletime and is, of necessity, expensive, as is apparent. Even the best ofthese arch supports are often cumbersome.

Another type of orthopedic support has become conventional in which apocket is provided at the point at which a portion of the foot isostensibly supported, said pocket being adapted to be filled with aplastic material such as synthetic resin or rubber latex of which anydesired quantity up to the capacity of the pocket may be introduced intothe pocket. The pocket is then sealed and the support is placed inside ashoe. A person may then put on the shoes and while the shoes are beingworn the material in the pocket sets to a hard and rigid, or at leastfirm, mass, thus creating a firm support for a portion of the foot. Thistype of support has the obvious disadvantage that rather than supportinga particular portion of the foot in such a manner as to correct adeformity, the contours of the deformity or malformation are impressedupon the material as it sets and thus the device merely supports themalformation rather than supporting said portion of the foot in suchmanner as to correct any defect.

My invention provides an orthopedic support which is suitable forcorrecting different sorts of defects, and may be adjusted to supportdifierent portions of the foot to different degrees and yet may beproduced easily and cheaply and is such that fitting and adjustment maybe carried out by any person who is well acquainted with thecharacteristics of feet or even by one who is merely well acquaintedwith the characteristics or deformities of any particular foot.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an orthopedicsupport which may be economically produced and yet which is adjustablyadaptable to support any one or all of several portions of a foot invarying degrees.

Another object of the invention is such an orthopedic support which isnot harmful to the shoe in which it is placed.

Another object is a blank from which such an orthopedic device may beproduced.

Further objects will become apparent from the drawings and the followingdetailed description in which like reference numerals refer to likeparts and in which it is my intention to illustrate the invention, itbeing understood that changes may be made from the precise embodimentsshown without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an orthopedic device according to myinvention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of said device;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank from which said device may be made;

Figure 4 is a plan view of another orthopedic device according to myinvention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the device of myinvention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of the device according toFigure 5;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the embodiment of Figure 5may be made;

Figure 8 is a plan view of another blank from which the embodiment ofFigure 5 may be made;

Figure 9 is a plan view of another embodiment;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the I device accordingto Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bottom of another embodiment;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view on lines 12-12 of the insert showingthe embodiment of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the bottom of a modification of theembodiment of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view on lines 1414 of the insert shown inFigure 13;

Figure 15 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 16 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 17 is a plan view of a blank from which the embodiment of Figure16 may be made;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the bottom of a modification of theembodiment of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 20 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 20 with theappendages folded outward to show the construction; and

Figure 22 is a plan view of a blank from which a modification of theembodiment of Figure 20 may be made.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an orthopedic deviceconsisting of an insolelike portion I. provided with a roundedprojection 2 extending from the perimetral edge thereof in theneighborhood of the longitudinal arch portion thereof. At the pointwhere the edges of projection 2 meet the edge of portion 1 (whichconforms to the normal perimeter of an insole of a shoe adjacent thelongitudinal arch portion) straplike appendages 3 are attached.Appendages 3 may be integral with portion 1 or may be attached by meansof sewing or adhesive or other means known to the art. Appendages 3 arefolded downwardly and inwardly under portion 1, being attached by sewingor adhesive or other means to portion 1 at their extremities 4. Thearrangement of appendages 3 in this manner provides a means of firmlysecuring inserts 5 to the bottom side of portion 1 at the longitudinalarch portion thereof. Inserts 5 are removable and any desired number ofinserts may be included in order to provide a greater or less degree ofsupport as may be desired. In addition to the support provided at thelongitudinal arch portion by inserts 5, the embodiments of Figures 1 and2 make provision for support of the transverse or metatarsal arch, slots6 being provided therein at approximately the central portion of themetatarsal arch adapted to retain insert 7 which may be of any thicknesswhich will provide varying desired degrees of support for the centralportion of the metatarsal arch. Several inserts may be iised in place ofthe single insert 7 to provide any desired height of support.

In Figure 3 there is shown a blank indicated generally as 8 from whichthe device shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be made. Blank 8 hassubstantially the shape of the insole portion of a shoe, additionallybeing provided with projection 2' at the longitudinal arch portionthereof and straplike appendages 3 protruding therefrom being integrallyattached thereto at the junction of the edges which define the insole ofa shoe at the longitudinal arch portion thereof and the edges ofprojection 2. Too portion 9 serves primarily merely to keep the devicemore securely in place and may be omitted. Heel portion 16 may also beomitted but is desirable to assist in keeping the device in place in theshoe. I is 4 Referfing now to Figure 4 thereis shown anotherembodimentin which insolelike portion 11 is provided with roundedlateral projection 12 in place of a normal insolelike perimeter at thelongitudinal arch portion thereof and is further provided withappendages 13 attached at the junction of the edges of said projectingportion 12. and those edges of portion 11 which define the normalperimeter of an insole in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch,said appendages being folded downwardly and inwardly and having theirends attached to the bottom of portion 11 at 14-. Inserts 15 maybe heldin place by the interaction of portion 11 and attachedappendages 13. Themetatarsal arch area may be provided with a plurality of slots 16 whichthus provide for a plurality of locations for insert 17 which may beheld in place by any pair of slots 16 and may thus support any portionof the transverse or metatarsal arch according to the needs of anyparticular user. i p

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 there is shown an em bodimentcomprising a portion 21 generally conforming to the contours of theinsoleof ashoe provided with projecting portion 22 at the longitudinalarch area thereof and further provided with strap-like appendages 23attached at the junction of the edges of said projecting portion 22 andthose edges of portion 21 which define the normal perimeter 'of aninsole in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch, said appendages 23being folded downwardly and inwardly underneath the bottom surface of21, their ends being attached thereto at 24. The position of appendages23 is thus such that generally heart-shaped inserts 25 in any desirednumber can be securely retained in place by the interaction ofappendages 23 and the bottom of portion 21. The device of Figures 5 and6 does not extend forward entirely to the front of the shoe but the toeportion is omitted and the contour 29 of the front portion issubstantially a straight line running transversely across the foot.Appendages 26 are attached to portion 21 at the junction of contour 29with those edges of 21 which correspond to the normal perimeter of ashoe insole in its toe area, said an pendag'e's 26 having the form ofstrips and being folded downwardly underneath 2 1 and having their endsattached to the bottom of portion ll at 27. Said location of strip 26permits the insertion underneath 21 of flexible inserts 28 in any numberwhich may be desired to provide adequate support for the metatarsal archportion of the foot, the arrangement of strips 26 being adapted to holdinserts 28 securely in place.

In Figure 7 there is shown a blankvfrom which the orthopedic supports ofFigures 5 and 6 may be made, said blank may be formed out of materialsuch as a thin fiexible sheet of leather or plastic in a single stampingoperation in such manner as to provided all the elements of the deviceexcept inserts 25 and 28 as an integral unit or the appendages may bemade separately and attached by known means such as by sewing oradhesive. Insole portion 21 is provided with projection '22 at thelongitudinal arch area thereof and with adjoining appendages 23' and isprovided at the toe portion with appendages 26'. That portion 29' whichmight *cbrres'p'bfi'd to the 4 portion of a shoe insole extending underthe extremities Of the toes be ifi'cllld'ed or may be 'O'fiiittd asshiiWfi.

In Figure 8 there is shown another blank suitable for producing a veryslight modification of the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6. Portion 21 ofthe blank corresponds to the contours of an insole of a shoe and isprovided with projection 22" and adjoining appendages 23" and isprovided with an omitted t'o'e portion 29 which optionally may beincluded and is provided further with adjoining appendages 26". It willbe observed that although appendages 23' and 23f are attached toinsolelike portion 21 and 21" respectively, at the junctions of theedges of projections 22 and 22" with the adjoining normal insolelikeperimeter edges, appendages 23' are folded along the line of theinsolelike perimeter whereas appendages 23" are folded along the line ofthe perimeter of projection 22"; therefore appendages 23' and 23"project from portions 21' and 21 in different directions. Similarly,appendages 26' and 26" although attached at substantially the same pointwith reference to toe portion 29' and 29" fold respectively along theedges of that part of the perimeter 21' which defines omitted toeportion 29 and the normal lines of an insole perimeter and thereforeextend outwardly from portions 21 and 21 in different directions. s I

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 there is shown another embodiment inwhich insolelike portion 31 is provided with projection 32 in theneighborhood of the longitudinal arch and with appendages 33 attachedthereto at the junction of the normal insolelike perimeter in said areawithjthe edges of projection 32, said appendages 33 being foldeddownwardly and inwardly, so as to underlie the bottom of 31 in parallelrelationship, the ends of said appendages being attached to the bottomof portion 31 at 34. Said straplike appendages 33 thus provide means forsecurely retaining in place thinfiexible inserts 35 which may beinserted in any number desired for support of the longitudinal archportion of a foot. In: solelike portion 31 is further provided with apair of slots 36 under the hall of the foot adapted to retain inserts 37which may be placed therein to provide support for the ball of the foot.Insole-like portion 31 is further provided with pairs of slots 38 and 39at the heel portion thereof in which inserts may be retained to supporteither the right or the left portion of the heel respectively or tosupport the entire heel by placing an insert in each of the pairs ofslots 33 and 39. insolelike portion 31 is further provided withperforations 40 which are adapted to improve the ventilation of the footand also further adapted to retain powder which may be applied fortreatingthe foot to alleviate or eliminate such condi tions as athletesfoot, ringworm, fungus or impetigo or may be applied merely for thecomfort of the wearer. Each perforation retains a small amount of powderand the powder therefore remains for a substantial length of time in thefoot area instead of migrating to the outer edges o'r the insole.

Referring now to Figure 11 there is shown insolelike portion 41 providedwith projection 42 at the longitu; dinal arch area thereof and withstraplike appendages 43 folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underliethe bottom surface thereof and having their ends attached to the saidlower surface at 44. Insert45 is retained in place by the interaction ofportion 41 and said appenda 'ges 43.

In Figure '12 said insert 45 is shown in cross-section. Insert 45 mayconsist of a thin piece of material which may be leather or plastic andhas attached to one surface atiibe 4'6 through which warm air may beintroduced to warm the feet or powder or gas may be introduced to treatthe feet; said tube 46 may be attached to the thin sheet 45 by adhesiveor other means. It may be noted that insert 45 is not heart-shaped butis merely triangular in shape ang Pldvided with two lobes which extendthrough the loops formed by the two straplike appendages 43, said lobesbeingso shaped that thebase line of insert 45 nearest the extremity ofappendages 43 at point 44 is substantially a straight line.

Referring now to Figure 13 there is shown another embodiment quitesimilar to the embodiment of Figure 11 in which insolelike portion 51 isprovided with projece tion 52 and straplike appendages 53 having theirends secured to the bottom surface of portion 51 at 54. Insert 55 whichis retained in place by the interaction of portion 51 and straps 53, asshow in Figure 14, comprises two pieces of thin flexible material, whichmay be any suitable material such as that of which portion 51 is made,having inserted thereinbetween tube 56 through which warm air may beintroduced to warm the feet or gases or powders for treatment of thefeet. Said tube 56 may be provided with a distributing device 57 whichmay be a short section of tubing disposed transversely to tube 56 andprovided with a T connection thereto.

Referring now to Figure there is shown another embodiment in whichinsolelike portion 61 of thin flexible material is provided withstraplike appendages 63 attached to the perimetral edge of portion 61and folded downwardly and inwardly and attached to the bottom surface of61 at 64. It may be noted that portion 61 is not provided with anyprojection at the longitudinal arch portion thereof but has merely thecontours of a shoe insole. Insert 65 is retained in place by straplikeappendages 63 and is also not provided with a projection extendingbeyond the insolelike perimeter in the longitudinal arch area of portion63. Insert 65 may be best described as having a crescent shape ratherthan the heart shape shown in aforementioned figures and as indicated byFigures 11 and 13 insert 65 need not be heartshaped. insolelike portion61 is further provided with straplike appendages 66 attached thereto atthe perimeter of the toe portion thereof and folded downwardly andinwardly, having their extremities secured to the bottom surface thereofat 67. Insert 68 is retained in place in the toe area of portion 61 bythe action of straps 66 and is generally semicircular in shape. Inserts65 and 68 may consist of one or more layers of thin flexible materialwhich may be similar to that of which insolelike portion 61 is made.

In Figure 16 there is shown another embodiment in which insolelikeportion 71 is provided with straplike appendages 73 attached thereto byseams at the longitudinal arch portion of the normal insolelikeperimeter thereof. Said straplike appendages 73 are folded downwardlyand inwardly, having their ends secured to the bottom surface of portion71 at 74. Appendages 73 are adapted to retain in place an insertaccording to the embodiment of Figure 15 or according to the embodimentsof Figures 11 or 13 but in addition appendages 73 are provided withslots 79 which are adapted to have inserted therein an insert such as75, which need not be so large as the inserts of the other embodimentsaforementioned. Since slots are provided at different places in straps73, insert 75 may be optionally inserted in such of said slots as willprovide for its most suitable arrangement with respect to the area ofthe foot which it is desired to support.

There is shown in Figure 17 a blank from which the embodiment of Figure16 may be made; said blank comprises insolelike portion 71' providedwith one end of each of straplike appendages 73 sewed thereto adjacentthe normal insolelike perimeter thereof at the longitudinal arch area.Said straps 73' are provided with slots 79' adapted to hold a smallinsert in any one of a plurality of desired locations. Insert 75 inFigure 16 is shown as having a generally crescent shape but need nothave such a shape. It may be oval, diamond shaped, triangular, or evenaltogether irregular.

In Figure 18 there is shown another embodiment in which insolelikeportion 81 is provided with straplike appendages 83 similar to theappendages 73 shown in Figures 16 and 17. Appendages 83'are providedwith slots 89 therein and have their ends secured to the bottom surfaceof 81 at 84. An insert 85 which may be oval as shown may be inserted ina pair of said slots 89. As shown in Figure 18 any desired additionalnumber of straplike appendages may be provided at any area of insolelikeportion 81 to retain inserts of any desired thickness in order thatsupport may be provided at any desired portion of the foot. For example,portion 81 may be provided with straplike appendages 86 in theneighborhood of the termini of the metatarsal arch, said straplikeappendages 86 being folded downwardly and inwardly and having their endssecured to the bottom surface of portion of 81 at 87. Straps 86 areadapted to retain in place an insert 88 which may consist of one or morethicknesses of a thin flexible material which may be identical orsimilar to the material of which portion 81 is made. As has beenmentioned before in connection with such inserts as insert 65 and insert68, the insert such as 88 may be any one of numerous desired shapes.

There is shown in Figure 19 another embodiment in which insolelikeportion 91 is provided with straplike appendages 93 extending on thelower surface thereof and substantially parallel with the lower surfacethereof from points adjacent the normal insolelike perimetral edgethereof in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch and being attachedthereto at said points by adhesive or by seams as shown. Saidstraps mayhave their other ends adjacent each other and attached adjacent eachother to the bottom surface of portion 91 at 94 by seams as shown or byother suitable means. Such straps are adapted to retain in place aninsert such as 95, Which may consist of one or more thicknesses of athin flexible material. Insert 95 may have any one of the shapesheretofore mentioned. As shown it may have the shape of an approximatelysymmetrical three-lobed planar figure, one of the lobes forming aprojection 92 at the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch which mayextend beyond the normal perimetral insolelike edge of portion 91.Insolelike portion 91 is further provided with straplike appendages inthe toe area thereof, such straps being attached to the lower surface ofportion 91 at their outer ends adjacent to the perimeter of portion 91by seams, as shown, or other suitable means, being attachedsubstantially adjacent one another at their other ends at 97, as shown.Straps 96 are adapted to retain in place an insert 98 which may supportany desired portion of the toe area of the foot. Insert 98, which isshown as having the shape of an ellipse may have any of the shapesdescribed heretofore in connection with inserts. Q

In Figures 20 and 21 there is shown another embodiment in whichinsolelike portion 101 is provided with appendages 102 and 103 attachedrespectively at the perimetral edge'of 101 in the toe area at 104 and inthe heel area at 105, said appendages 102 and 103 being adapted to folddownwardly and inwardly so as to un derlie the bottom surface of portion101 and be dis posed substantially parallel thereto, said portions 102and 103 having respectively the shape of a sole portion of an insole ofa shoe and the heel portion of an insole of a shoe so that takentogether they substantially define the outline of a shoe insole.Portions 102 and 103 may be provided with slots 106 adapted to retain inplace inserts such as 107, 108 and 109 which may be so located in anytwo or more of slots 106 as to support any edge portion of a foot.Inserts 107, 108 and 109 may have any of the shapes heretofore describedin connection with inserts. Portions 102 and 103 are attached to theedge of portion 101 by sewing but may, of course, be attached by othersuitable means such as adhesive or, as shown in Figure 22, they may beintegrally connected therewith by being stamped out of the same sheet offlexible material.

In Figure 22 there is shown a blank comprising insolelike portion 101.provided with appendages 102 and 103 integrally connected therewith bybeing stamped out of the same sheet of material in connectingrelationship, said appendages being adapted to be folded downwardly andinwardly underneath portion 101 so as to define a second insolelikeportion substantially as shown in Figure 20.

Thus it may be observed from the description that my invention broadlyconsists of a sheet of thin flexible material substantially having theshape of at least a portion of an insole of a shoe and therefore adaptedto be inserted in a shoe, said insolelike portion being provided with aplurality of appendages each having an end attached thereto adjacent theperimetral edge thereof and adapted to be folded downwardly and inwardlyso as to underlie the bottom surface thereof and be sub stantiallyparallel therewith. Said appendages may be adapted tohave their otherends attached to the bottom surface of said insolelike portion andthereby to retain an insert of any desired thickness which may beadapted to support any desired portion of a foot or the appendages maybeprovided with slots therein or straps thereon which are in turn adaptedto retain in place such an insert.

The said thin flexible material may be leather or synthetic resin orrubber, natural or synthetic, and may suitably have a thickness of tothe specific thickness not being critical to the invention.

Thus it may be seen that my invention provides means for easily andeconomically providing any portion of a foot whatsoever, according tothe desires or whims of an operator, with support of such thickness andextending to such lateral degree as the operator may prefer.

Thus it will be observed that my invention is broad in scope and is notto be limited except by the claims since certain adaptations andvariations may be permissible.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In an orthopedic device comprising a sheet of thin flexible materialsubstantially having the shape of at least aportion of an insole for ashoe and thereby being adapted to be inserted in a shoe, a pair ofstraplike appendages of approximately equal length each having an endattached thereto adjacent the perimetral edge there'- of spaced apartalong said edge a distance approximately equal to the length of each ofsaid appendages and folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underlie thebottom surface thereof and be substantially parallel therewith theotherwise unattached ends of said appendages being 1 attached adjacenteach other to the bottom surface of said insolelike portion.

2. The device of claim -1 in which said appendages are provided withslots therein.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said slots are parallel to theperimeter-s "of said appendages.

4. An orthopedic device comprising a sheet of thin flexible materialsubstantially having the shape of at least a portion of an insole for ashoe and thereby being adapted to be inserted in a shoe, having arounded projection extending from the longitudinal arch portion of theperimetral edge thereof, said extending portion being adapted to extendupward along the interior surface of a shoe between the adjacent upperof the shoe and the adjacent longitudinal arch portion of a foot, saidinsolelike portion being provided with a pair of straplike appendages ofapproximately equal length each having an end attached thereto adjacentthe perimetral edge thereof spaced apart along said edge a distanceapproximately equal to the length of each of said appendages and foldeddownwardly and inwardly so as to underlie the bottom surface thereof andbe substan tially parallel therewith, said appendages being adapted toretain at least one piece of thin flexible material under saidinsolelike portion adapted to support a portion of a foot, the otherwiseunattached ends of said appendages being attached adjacent each other tothe bottom surface of said insolelike portion.

5. The device of claim 4 in which ends of said straplike appendages areattached to said edge at the longitudinal arch portion theerof.

6-. The device of claim 4 in which ends of said straplike appendages areattached on each side of said rounded projection.

7. A blank from which an orthopedic support may be constructedcomprising a sheet of thin flexible mate rial substantially having theshape of at least a portion of an insole for a shoe, said insolelikeportion being provided with a pair of straplike appendages ofapproximately equal length each having an end attached thereto adjacentthe perimetral edge thereof spaced apart along said edge a distanceapproximately equal to the length of each of said appendages and adaptedto be folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underlie the bottomsurface thereof and be substantially parallel therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS246,931 Williams Sept. 13, 1881 683,142 Reed Sept. 24, 1901 1,061,352Block May 13, 1913 1,417,600 Gutmann May 30, 1922 2,957,519 1 Block Oct.13, 1936 2,220,439 Block Nov. 5, 1940 2,312,373 Baum Mar. 2, 19432,487,691 Boos Nov. 8, 1949 2,510,654 Pepin June 6, 1958 2,559,014Fo'rtier July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,856/28 Australia Nov. 26, 1929

